Tracking and theft-recovery system for mobile assets

ABSTRACT

A system for tracking objects includes tracking devices each attached to an object to be tracked and including a short range communications module. A server includes a processor and a memory. A mobile communications device (typically a mobile telephone) includes memory for storing an identification of the mobile device, a long range communication module for communication over a cellular communication network and a short range communications module for receiving short range signals transmitted from tracking devices. The mobile telephone also includes a location determination module to determine the location of the mobile telephone. On receipt of a short range distress signal from a tracking device, a location is obtained from the location module and a signal transmitted to the server including at least the identification of the tracking device, a time of receipt of the short range signal from the tracking device and the determined location of the tracking device when the short range signal was received.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a tracking system for mobile assets,including an option to recover stolen assets, particularly for motorvehicles.

Motor vehicle theft is a significant problem in many parts of the world.Current vehicle tracking devices either make use of a “deep install”black box device that is physically fitted to the vehicle; they alsoinclude a wide-area wireless radio frequency (RF) interface such as acellular radio or some other proprietary radio frequency system for thedevice to communicate via a communication network with computers thattrack the location of vehicles. The use of such a network increases thecost of operations of the asset tracking system.

In addition, prior solutions to the theft problem require a human (e.g.,the vehicle's owner) to discover that the vehicle has been stolen, tothen send a message to an operations center to report theft. Then, inresponse, the location of the stolen vehicle may be found using thelocation data periodically sent to a server under the control of theoperations center, or sent in response to a query made to the black boxin the car. This process may take several hours or even days because ofthe delay involved in a human discovering that the vehicle may have beenstolen.

Moreover, in the field of insurance telematics, an insurer may wish tomonitor driving behaviour of a vehicle with the owner's consent, inorder to determine how a vehicle is being driven by a driver provideinsurance discounts to good drivers and create incentives and programsfor safer driving.

This present invention provides an improved asset tracking and theftrecovery system that (1) does not mandate a wide-area wirelesscommunication module on the tracking device inside a vehicle, (2)whether or not a wide-area wireless communication module is used on thetracking device, supports the ability to pre-emptively discover within afew minutes of movement that a vehicle is running without the presenceof an authorized user of the vehicle (and hence may possibly be in theprocess of being stolen), and (3) as an option, embeds the ability tomonitor the relevant driving behaviour elements required by the insurerwithout the need to attach the device to the vehicle harness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a tracking deviceincluding:

-   -   a short range wireless communication module;    -   an accelerometer; and    -   a controller connected to the wireless communication module and        to the accelerometer so that when an object to which the device        is connected in use moves, the movement is detected by the        accelerometer and in response thereto the controller waits for a        period of time to receive an authentication confirmation message        from the mobile communications device, if no authentication        confirmation message is received within the period of time the        controller controls the communication module to periodically        transmit distress messages via the short range wireless        communications module.

The short range wireless communication module may be a Bluetoothcommunication module.

In one example, the tracking device further includes a long range lowenergy wireless communication module typically in the form of a LoRa(Low Energy Long Range) wireless communication module for communicationover a LoRa wireless network or a cellular network.

In one embodiment, the tracking device receives via the long rangecommunication module an activate message from a tracking server and inresponse thereto the controller activates the short range wirelesscommunication module to transmit periodic distress messages via theshort range wireless communications module.

The tracking device may further include a memory for storing a uniqueidentifier of the device and wherein the accelerometer measures theacceleration of the tag and thereby of the vehicle and storesacceleration data in the memory and wherein the controller controls thecommunication module to transmit a sequence of time stamped accelerationdata to a mobile communications device.

In this way the tracking device also provides driving behaviour data.

According to another example embodiment of the present invention thereis provided a system for tracking objects including:

-   -   a plurality of tracking devices each attached to an object to be        tracked and including a short range communications module;    -   a server;    -   a mobile communications device including:        -   a memory for storing therein an identification of the mobile            device;        -   a long range communication module for communication over a            cellular communication network;        -   a short range communications module for receiving short            range signals transmitted from tracking devices, the            received signal including at least an identification of the            tracking device;        -   a location determination module to determine the location of            the mobile communication device; and        -   a processor for:            -   on receipt of a short range distress signal from a                tracking device, obtaining a location from the location                module; and            -   transmitting a signal to the server via the long range                communication module, the signal including at least the                identification of the tracking device, a time of receipt                of the short range signal from the tracking device and                the determined location of the tracking device when the                short range signal was received.

The short range communications module may be a Bluetooth communicationmodule which receives a Bluetooth distress signal from a trackingdevice.

In one example the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone.

The mobile communications device and the server may both include a longrange communications module which enable the mobile communicationsdevice and the server to communicate directly with one another.

The serve may further include a memory associated with the server,wherein the server further:

-   -   receives an authentication request from a mobile communications        device, the authentication request including an identification        of a tracking device and an identification of the mobile        communications device from which the request is received;    -   accesses the memory to determine if the mobile communications        device from which the authentication request is received is an        authorised mobile communications device for the tracking device;        and    -   if the mobile communications device is an authorised device then        transmitting an authentication message back to the mobile        communications device via the long range communication modules.

Upon receipt of an authentication message, the mobile communicationdevice transmits a cancel message via the short range communicationmodules to the tracking device to thereby stop the tracking device fromtransmitting distress messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example tracking system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a tracking device used in thetracking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a mobile communications deviceused in the tracking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a server used in the trackingsystem of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows two vehicles passing one another on a standard residentialroad as per a road test that was conducted to evaluate the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a tracking device and a tracking systemwithin which the device operates.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the tracking device 10 is shownfor use in tracking a motor vehicle 12. However, it will be appreciatedthat the tracking device 10 could be used to track other suitableassets.

In the illustrated example embodiment, the tracking device 10 is in theform of a tag that typically includes a physical connector (not shown)by means of which the device can be physically attached to a motorvehicle which is to be tracked.

Referring to FIG. 2, the tracking device 10 includes a short rangewireless communication module 14 typically in the form of a BluetoothLow Energy (BLE) communication module.

The tracking device 10 also includes an accelerometer 18, which measuresacceleration of the tracking device 10, and thereby measures theacceleration of any object to which the tracking device 10 is connectedin use. The function of this accelerometer will be described in moredetail below.

The tag may have additional sensors as well, including a gyroscope andcompass.

In the preferred embodiment, the tracking device 10 is battery-operatedand so includes a battery 24.

The tracking device 10 also includes a memory 20 in which at least aunique identifier of the tracking device 10 is stored.

The tracking device 10 is used to track a stolen object using aplurality of mobile communication devices typically in the form ofmobile telephones 26, which are encountered in the vicinity of thestolen object.

By way of overview, in the first example the tracking device 10 uses theshort range communication module 14 to transmit a distress signalincluding an identity of the tracking device 10 obtained from memory 20.The distress messages are then received by mobile communication devices26, which are used to determine the locations traversed by the trackingdevice 10 (and therefore of the stolen object), as will be explained inmore detail below.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in one example embodiment the object to whichthe tracking device 10 is connected is a motor vehicle 12. If the motorvehicle is determined to be stolen (this will be explained in moredetail below), mobile communications devices in the form of mobiletelephones 26 in passing motor vehicles or with people on roadsides orin nearby buildings are typically used to receive BLE distress messagestransmitted from the tracking device 10.

The BLE distress message may be received directly by the mobilecommunications device 26 or may be transmitted from one tracking device10 to another tracking device 10 (possibly multiple times) beforeterminating in a mobile communications device 26.

In this example a threshold of allowable hops are set before the signalreaches a mobile communications device 26. Alternatively, or inaddition, a time bound may be set, i.e., any number of hops is allowableas long as the current time is not more than T minutes from theorigination time of the message. If more than T minutes have elapsed,then the message will be discarded and won't be forwarded further. Thisis because the information about the stolen object's current location,inferred from a location/positioning module 36 (such as GPS) on themobile communications device, will not be pertinent if the timedifference is too large.

In any event, FIG. 3 illustrates the mobile communications device 26 inmore detail. It will be appreciated that this device will typically be aso-called smartphone. It may also be a tablet device or a dedicateddevice purpose-built and installed in commonly-driven areas (e.g., fuelrefuelling stations).

The mobile communications device 26 includes a memory 28 for storingtherein a unique identifier of the mobile communications device 24.

A long range communications module 30 is used by the mobilecommunications device 26 for communication over a cellularcommunications network 32 (shown in FIG. 1). It could also use a Wi-Finetwork or any other data network available on the mobile communicationsdevice 26.

A short range communications module 34 is used by the mobilecommunications device 26 for receiving short range signals transmittedfrom the tracking device 10.

It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, the shortrange communications module 34 is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)communications module.

A location determination module 36 is used to determine the location ofthe mobile communication device 26. This module 36 is typically aLocation Provider (e.g., a global positioning system such as GPS) modulethat is able to determine the location of the mobile communicationsdevice 26 at any given time. It may also be a so-called network locationprovider that obtains location information using cellular or Wi-Fisignals, or using a combination of GPS and network location.

The mobile communications device 26 typically also includes a userinterface 38 for receiving inputs from the user and a display 40 fordisplaying information to the user.

A processor 42 controls the operation of the mobile communicationsdevice 26 so that on receipt of a short range BLE signal containing theunique identifier of a tracking device 10, a location at that time isobtained from the location module 36.

Because the mobile communications device 26 must have been within closeproximity to the tracking device 10 to receive the signal transmittedfrom the tracking device 10, the location of the mobile communicationsdevice 26 is in fact substantially the same location as the trackingdevice 10.

In this way, the location of the tracking device 10 can effectively bedetermined when a mobile communications device 26 is nearby.

Once a location is determined, a message is transmitted by the mobilecommunications device 26 via the long range communication module 30 overthe cellular network 32 to a server 44 with an associated memory 46.

The message will include at least the received unique identifier of thetracking device 10, a time of receipt of the short range wireless signalfrom the tracking device 10, and the determined location of the trackingdevice 10 when the short range signal was received.

Referring to FIG. 4, the server 44 includes a number of modules.

In one example embodiment, the modules described may be implemented by amachine-readable medium embodying instructions which, when executed by amachine, cause the machine to perform any of the methods describedabove.

In another example embodiment the modules may be implemented usingfirmware programmed specifically to execute the method described herein.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are notlimited to such an architecture, and could equally well find applicationin a distributed system, or a peer-to-peer, architecture system. Thusthe modules illustrated could be located on one or more servers operatedby one or more institutions.

In any event, a communications module 48 allows the server 44 tocommunicate over a communications network 32 (such as the Internet) tothe mobile communications device 26.

A processor of the server 50 includes an analysing module thatcontinuously evaluates received messages and in this way is able totrack the movement of tracking device 10 via the location informationdata received.

Thus it will be appreciated that the tracking system of the presentinvention effectively provides a “crowd-sourced tracking model” thatrelies on the capability of mobile communications devices in the generalvicinity of a tracked object to connect to a tracking device via BLE andto determine the position of itself via GPS.

There are various ways in which the tracking device 10 can be placed ina distressed mode where it is periodically transmitting distresssignals.

In a first embodiment, the tracking device 10 includes a long rangecommunication module 16 which is used by the server 44 to switch thedevice 10 into distress mode.

The long range wireless communication module 16 is typically in the formof a cellular or LoRa wireless communication module or equivalent.

The long-range wireless communication module 16 receives an “activate”message transmitted from the server 44 and in response thereto theprocessor 22 controls the tracking device 10 to put the device in adistressed mode whereby the short range wireless communication module 14transmits messages or transmits messages more frequently indicating thatthe asset must be tracked and found.

In this embodiment, in addition to using BLE transmissions received by anearby mobile communications device 26 to determine the location of thetracking device 10, the location of the tracking device 10 can beapproximately obtained and tracked using location information inferredfrom long range wireless signals of the cellular network, LoRa, orequivalent. In this scenario the short range and long rangecommunication functionality of the tracking device 10 are used tocomplement one another.

In this example embodiment, the security protocol is further enhanced inthat the identity of a “master” mobile communication device (e.g., thesmartphone belonging to the owner or other authorized users of thevehicle, which would run an application capable of processing signalssent by the tracking device 10) will be stored in the memory 20 of thetracking device 10. Should the vehicle then be moving and the “master”mobile communication device not be present in the vehicle, the trackingdevice 10 using the LoRa module 16 would be able to initiate a distresssignal to the server 44 and turn the tracking device into “distressmode.”

In one example, the controller 22 checks, via the short range wirelesscommunication module 14, if a master mobile communications device islocated within range of the tracking device.

If a master mobile communications device is located within range of thetracking device (e.g., because it connects to the tracking device overBLE), then the controller 22 will not activate the short rangecommunication module 14 to periodically transmit short range wirelessmessages.

If a master mobile communications device is not located within range ofthe tracking device then the controller 22 will transmit a message viathe long range communication module 16 requesting from a server a statusof the object to which the device is attached and then receiving astatus message back from the server.

In addition, the following is an example of a policy applied to thesystem that would enable tracking of the module in this embodiment:

1) The tracking device 10 would communicate with the in-vehicle mobilesmartphone each time the vehicle starts to move based on a movementalgorithm embedded in the device 10.

2) After T minutes into the trip the tracking device 10 using the longrange communication network 16 would initiate a connection to check inwith the server 44 to determine if that vehicle has been reportedstolen. Should this be the case, the tracking device 10 is put into thedistress mode whereby it will send more frequently the Bluetooth LowEnergy ID packets and may communicate more frequently via the long-rangecommunications infrastructure in order to provide information totriangulate the tracking device's location.

3) All receiving mobile communication devices 26 are also instructedconfigured to “read” these distress signals and report the location tothe server 44.

In another embodiment the device 10 operates with only the short-rangecommunications module 14 operating in conjunction with a master mobilecommunications device as follows. It will be appreciated that thisembodiment will have lower costs of implementation and operationscompared to using the long-range communications capability.

When the vehicle starts moving the tracking device 10 will attempt toauthenticate with a mobile device/smartphone 26 in the vehicle.

The movement of the vehicle is detected as described above using amovement algorithm embedded in the device 10 based on the magnitude ofdetected acceleration exceeding a threshold for a certain period of timeand this identifies that the vehicle is being driven.

Once movement is detected, the device 10 will communicate with themobile device 26 via the short range mobile communications modules 14and 32 and the tracking device 10 will transmit its unique identifier tothe mobile communications device 26.

It will be appreciated that in order for this to occur a softwareapplication is executing on the processor 42 of the mobilecommunications device 26.

By way of this executable application, the mobile communications device26 may authenticate the tracking device 10 by comparing the receivedidentification with an identification stored in memory 20. If thesematch, then an “authenticated” message is transmitted back to thetracking device 10.

Alternatively, or in addition, the mobile communications device 26 willcheck with the server 44 if it is allowed to authenticate the device 10.In one example, this is done by the mobile device 26 transmitting theserial number of the device 10 via the mobile communication device'slong-range communications module 30, together with an identification ofthe mobile communications device 26 to the server 44.

Upon receipt of the data via the communications module 48, the server 44will access the memory 46 to ascertain if the tracking device 10 isassociated with the mobile communications device 26 from which the datahas been received.

If the device 10 is associated with the mobile device 26, a message istransmitted back to the mobile device 26 confirming this fact.

Upon receipt of this data message, the mobile device 26 communicateswith the device 10 confirming this authentication.

If the device 10 does not receive an authentication message, it willenter distress mode.

The operation of the system in distress mode is time-based: if a messageis not received within a specific time, then the tracking device 10 willenter distress mode.

In distress mode, the device 10 will transmit distress messagesperiodically as described above.

A more detailed explanation of this embodiment is as follows.

The accelerometer 18 on the tracking device 10 detects motion of theobject based on the magnitude of detected acceleration exceeding athreshold for a certain period of time and this identifies that thevehicle is being driven.

Once movement is detected, the device 10 will communicate with themobile communications device 26 via the short range mobilecommunications modules 14 and 32. In the example of using the Bluetoothcommunication protocol, a Bluetooth connection is established betweenthe device 10 and the mobile device 26. Communication between the device10 and the mobile communications device 26 will now occur via thisestablished Bluetooth connection.

After T minutes without receiving an authenticated “cancel alarm”command (described below), the tracking device 10 will begintransmitting a “distress message” that includes the unique identifier ofthe tracking device 10.

This distress message is transmitted in one of two ways:

-   -   a. In one embodiment, it is transmitted using the highest power        setting available on the short-range wireless communication        module 14.    -   b. In another embodiment, it is transmitted using the long-range        wireless communication module 16 if such a module is present on        the tracking device    -   c. It may also be sent on both if both options are available.

The transmission of distress messages is cancelled if a mobilecommunications device 26 connects to the tracking device 10 andtransmits an authenticated and valid “cancel alarm” command to thetracking device 10.

If such a message is received by tracking device 10 via the BLEcommunications module, then the tracking device 10 will ceasetransmitting distress messages for as long as the mobile communicationsdevice 26 remains connected to the tracking device 10 via the shortrange communications protocol as described above.

As explained below, only mobile communication devices belonging toauthorized owners or operators of the vehicle are able to send a validand authenticated “cancel alarm” message.

The following method is used to produce authenticated and valid “cancelalarm” messages for the mobile communications device 26 to send to thetracking device 10 over a connection to the short-range wireless module(BLE) 14. As the mobile communications device 26 is assumed to beuntrusted, the method relies on a shared security secret between thetracking device 10 and the server 44.

This is described as follows. Suppose a mobile communications device 26belonging to a user authorized to be present in the vehicle while it isdriving.

The mobile communications device 26 connects to the tracking device 10via the short-range wireless module 14 (BLE).

When the tracking device 10 accepts the connection it generates aone-time connection nonce (i.e., a single-use identifier) that is validfor the duration of the connection and sends it to the connected mobilecommunications device 26.

The mobile communications device 26 sends a request to the server 44 viathe long range communications modules 30 and 48 containing the uniqueidentifier of the tracking device 10 and the connection nonce, as wellas the user's credentials that are available to the mobilecommunications device (in the mobile application being used).

The server 44 verifies the user's credentials and looks up the mobilecommunications device 26 and tracking device 10 in its database. If themobile communications device 26 is authorized to cancel an alert on thespecified tracking device 10, then it constructs a valid “cancel alarm”.This message is signed with a signature that incorporates a hash of thefollowing information:

-   -   a. the one-time connection nonce    -   b. the unique identifier of the tracking device    -   c. the text of the message itself    -   d. the signature is signed with a symmetric secret key shared by        the server 44 and the tracking device 10, that is unique to the        tracking device 10.

The signed message is returned to the mobile communications device 26,and the mobile device transmits the message to the tracking device 10 tocancel the alarm.

The alarm remains suppressed only as long as the authorized mobilecommunications device remains connected.

On a new connection, a new nonce is chosen, invalidating any previouslytransmitted “cancel alarm” messages.

Note that the “cancel alarm” method is orthogonal to the method used tosend distress messages. The latter may be sent via a short-rangewireless module 14 or long-range module 16. In both cases, the “cancelalarm” method is useful to transmit distress messages proactively andonly when the vehicle is not being used by an authorized user.

Thus it will be appreciated that in all cases, the asset (motor vehicle)12 will be in distress mode and moving (being driven) with the BLEmodule 14 periodically transmitting messages. Each message will includeat least the identification of the tracking device 10 obtained from thememory 20.

This tracking device 10 now becomes discoverable by any suitable devicewhich is close enough to the tracking device 10 to receive the messagetransmitted from the tracking device 10 via its short-rangecommunication module (e.g., BLE).

Any smartphones, tablets, or other devices running an application thatembeds in it the ability to process these distress messages will belistening for this specific distress mode as described above, and willsend their locations when they pick up a tag in its vicinity in thisdistressed mode back to the server 44 via the mobile communicationsnetwork. This capability enables “crowd searching”, i.e., the ability todetect and recover theft using devices carried and used by people intheir daily lives. Of course, some of the mobile communication devicescould also be dedicated infrastructure devices located in locations thatare commonly driven.

Should a tag be in distressed mode for a number of days it can turnitself off to preserve the battery life on the device 10. It may also bedone if the user is not complying, i.e., does not drive with their phoneor keeps the short-range radio (e.g., Bluetooth) off on their mobilecommunications device 26.

Additionally, command messages will be able to be passed through thecrowd to the device 10 as well, i.e., to turn tags in and out ofdistress mode.

Referring to FIG. 5, a road test was conducted to evaluate the presentinvention with two vehicles on a standard residential road. Severalscenarios may be considered for this model but the one tested was of twovehicles passing each other in different directions on a road.

A BLE-USB device from Texas Instruments™ was used as the recordingdevice. This device is based on the CC2540 from Texas Instruments™. Datarecording was done with SmartRF Packet Sniffer from Texas Instruments™with a filter set on advertisement type and address.

The BLE modules were first placed in both vehicles front window areawhere good line-of-sight could be achieved. This was chosen to verifythe ranges claimed by the hardware manufacturer. Both vehicles traveledat a speed of 60 km/h.

In the second test, one module was placed on the central console betweenthe front seats where a phone might normally be placed and the secondmodule was placed on top of the sun visor. This presented slightinterference by the vehicle's body but also worked.

In a third test, module one was again on the central console and thesecond was placed in the glove box of the second vehicle. This wouldrepresent a more realistic scenario for the location of the trackingdevice 10 in the vehicle.

The last results correspond to a 50 m link radius when placed in theglove box. The data shows 49 BLE advertisement packets received in the 3second time span. Most of the packets were received at the lowestinterval, meaning there were no dropped packets.

Thus the tests indicate sufficient range with BLE radios.

In addition, two devices were evaluated using different antennas. Onemodule used a PCB etched antenna while the other module used a BLEmodule with a chip antenna on-board.

The test revealed a better performance with the PCB antenna compared tothe chip antenna.

A power consumption calculation for the tracking device 10 was donebased on the following model:

1. The tracking device 10 will be in sleep mode by default.

2. The accelerometer 18 will be active.

3. The accelerometer 18 will wake up the processor 22 when movement isdetected and the movement pattern must be considered by the processor.

4. The processor 22 will try to locate one or more mobile communicationdevices 26 via BLE from an internal list of previously registered“master” mobile devices.

a. If successful the tracking device 10 will not enter into the distressmode.

b. If unsuccessful the long range communication module 16 will send aLoRa status request to the server 44.

5. Processor 22 will then evaluate LoRa Rx for a recovery activationstatus from the server.

a. If successful the processor 22 will transmit distress messages on theBLE radio interface 14.

b. If unsuccessful, the processor 22 will continue to send LoRa statusrequests on the long range communication network, as well as trying tolocate a known master mobile smartphone.

i. If a known master mobile communication device is found, the systemreverts to sleep state.

ii. If a known master mobile communication device is not found, theprocessor 22 will continue to send LoRa status request.

6. On average, assume that the vehicle will be driven 4 times per day(i.e., 4 BLE phone verifications).

8. When stolen the BLE advertisement interval will be 20 ms+(0 to 10)ms.

9. The LoRa status request will be sent once every hour. When stolen theLoRa request interval will be set by the server.

The parameters of the system should be chosen so that the energyconsumption of the device is very low and the battery would not need tobe replaced for 5 years or more. This is feasible with currenttechnology.

If BLE alone is used for tracking the efficiency would be proportionalto the advertisement rate and would be even better.

Further testing carried out using the applicant's existing mobiletelephone software application executing on driver's mobile telephonesand some test devices 10 transmitting via Bluetooth were carried out.

The test was done using a crowd of about 80 000 mobile telephone usersin an urban area (in Johannesburg, South Africa) and three test devicesdeployed in vehicles in constant distress mode.

The tags were detected on average between around 800 and 3000 times perday, which provides strong evidence for the effectiveness of theproposed invention in practice.

In addition to the above, the tracking device 10 in one exampleembodiment also captures driving data and transmits this back to theserver 44.

An example of a “tag” device providing this functionality is describedin the applicant's published PCT patent application numberPCT/IB2014/065736, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

In brief, the accelerometer 18 measures the acceleration of the trackingdevice 10 and thereby of the vehicle 12 when the vehicle is moving andreports the data to the microcontroller 22.

The tracking device 10 records acceleration and other sensor data. Itstreams that data to a mobile device 26 over the short-range wirelesscommunication link, which will in turn process that data and transmitsat least a portion of the received and processed data via communicationsnetwork 32 to the server 44 as described in PCT patent applicationnumber PCT/IB2014/065736.

With the telematics functionality incorporated into the tracking device10, it will be appreciated that a tag is provided which can provide bothdriver monitoring functionality as well as tracking functionality. Itis, of course, also possible two or more such devices (tags and trackingdevices) to concurrently be operational in a vehicle. It may even bedesirable to have separate devices for stolen vehicle tracking and fordriver quality measurement.

Thus the present invention provides an improved tracking device andtracking system potentially combined with the ability to measure thedriving behaviour for the vehicle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tracking device including: a short rangewireless communication module; an accelerometer; and a controllerconnected to the wireless communication module and to the accelerometerso that when an object to which the device is connected in use moves,the movement is detected by the accelerometer and in response theretothe controller waits for a period of time to receive an authenticationconfirmation message from the mobile communications device, if noauthentication confirmation message is received within the period oftime the controller controls the communication module to periodicallytransmit distress messages via the short range wireless communicationsmodule.
 2. The tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the shortrange wireless communication module is a Bluetooth communication module.3. The tracking device according to claim 1 further including a longrange low energy wireless communication module.
 4. The tracking deviceaccording to claim 3 wherein the long range wireless communicationmodule is a LoRa (Low Energy Long Range) wireless communication modulefor communication over a LoRa wireless network or a cellular network. 5.The tracking device according to claim 4 wherein the tracking devicereceives via the long range communication module an activate messagefrom a tracking server and in response thereto the controller activatesthe short range wireless communication module to transmit periodicdistress messages via the short range wireless communications module. 6.The tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the device furtherincludes a memory for storing a unique identifier of the device.
 7. Thetracking device according to claim 6 wherein the accelerometer measuresthe acceleration of the tag and thereby of the vehicle and storesacceleration data in the memory and wherein the controller controls thecommunication module to transmit a sequence of time stamped accelerationdata to a mobile communications device.
 8. The tracking device accordingto claim 7 wherein the device also provides driving behaviour data.